Advice from the Geo

[OfTheSun]

Hi Geo, I've gotten some advice over on SS, but I'd like to hear what you think before I delve into this.

After my last trip to Seattle I burned over a quart on that 600 mile trip. [img]eek.gif[/img] So I obviously have a problem.

When I bought the car the PO told me that "it burned a little oil coming off of compression." And this was true. Just a small puff after a long downhill or something.

Well now it's after every stop sign/red light. I use compression braking quite a bit and I notice the smoke stepping on throttle after a stop.

Climbing the pass on my way back over I had to run around 4K to pull the grade and noticed a very small amount of smoke then, but nowhere else under throttle.

My father and SS tell me that this is the valve guide seals crapping the bed. The mild smoke under throttle makes me worried for the rings, but it doesn't seem that bad right now.

Any thoughts, please? Before I start ripping my valve train apart.

[Geo VP]

I would first do both a compression and leak-down test to find out if it's either the valves, valve seals or the rings. Maybe it's both depending on the miles of the engine. By the way how do the plugs look, clean, oily, any miss firings, etc? Shine a light down there and check the piston tops too when checking each plug.

Also I did see your post over on SS, but didn't answer it yet.

Geo
President
Team Sol of Washington

[BiffStroganoffsky]

Loss of power usually indicates rings. Valve seal leaks generally abate after the motor is at nominal operating temp.

[OfTheSun]

Yeah, I figured on doing a compression test first thing. I'll also try a leak-down test as well.

I checked the plugs a couple weeks ago before my trip (engine was burning oil then too) and oddly enough they looked pretty clean, no build up, no oil, only light grey coloring associated with proper age. Confused the hell outta me since I KNOW I'm burning oil. It's definitely not a leak; engine surface is clean.

[Geo VP]

Get back to us with what you find out after doing the testings.

Geo
President
Team Sol of Washington

[OfTheSun]

Ok, took it into the local Honda expert and had them give it a go over. While I'm burning oil, apparently it still isn't that much. The major part of the oil loss is from a blown pan gasket. Bad enough I lost a nut to one of the studs. I find this odd because I have no oil spots in my driveway, but the tech said it was fairly substantial. So after I get that gasket replaced we'll see how much that affects my consumption.

[Geo VP]

I've heard of that happening, that should take care of it then for you.

Geo
President
Team Sol of Washington